Interview and Book Giveaway with Janet Sketchley

by Jeff Reynolds 

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LIBRARY LADY!

 Last year, I had the privilege of interviewing Janet Sketchley about her Redemption's Edge series' debut, Heaven's Prey. Her follow-up, Secrets and Lies, is now off the presses. At the end of the interview, you can have an opportunity to win a print copy of this book if you live in the U.S. or Canada, or an e-book other-wise. Here's her bio:

Janet Sketchley is the author of Heaven's Prey and Secrets and Lies, two novels of suspense and redemption. She also blogs about faith and books. Janet loves adventure stories, worship music, tea and Formula 1 racing. Like Carol in Secrets and Lies, she loves music and tea. Unlike Carol, Janet isn't related to a dangerous offender, has a happy home life, and has never been threatened by a drug lord. May those tidbits continue to hold true!

Jeff Reynolds: Welcome back to Sleuths and Suspects. I'll get to your writing in a minute, but anything new going on with you outside of the literary world? Are you prepared for a nice balmy Canadian winter like last year's?

Janet Sketchley: I seem to recall shivering last winter, Jeff! After what the citizens of Buffalo endured in November, whatever we get, I'd better not complain. New outside the literary world: this summer, my husband and I celebrated our 30th anniversary with a European river cruise. Definitely the trip of a lifetime, although we catch ourselves scheming about doing it again someday.

JR:  Congratulations on your anniversary, newlywed! (My wife and I celebrated our 31st this past July.) On to inside the literary world: You've just released Secrets and Lies, the second book of the Redemption's Edge series. Sounds like it could be inspired by Washington (or, since you're Canadian, Ottawa). Would you like to tell us about the novel? And let me be psychic and predict that you'll give the previous question an affirmative answer.

JS: And this is why I enjoy your interviews – you make me smile as well as making me think. I like to write stories with happy (or at least hopeful) endings, and I'm not sure I could pull that off in a political novel. Here's a bit about my version of Secrets and Lies:

A single mother must protect her teenage son—from organized crime and from himself.

Carol Daniels thinks she out-ran her enemies, until a detective arrives at her door with a warning from her convict brother. Minor incidents take on a sinister meaning. An anonymous phone call warns her not to hide again.

Now she must cooperate with a drug lord while the police work to trap him. Carol has always handled crisis alone, but this one might break her. Late-night deejay Joey Hill offers friendship and moral support. Can she trust him? One thing's certain. She can't risk prayer.
JR:  There are great suspense stories I enjoy reading, and there are great suspense stories that make me miserable, being a nervous wreck worrying about the characters as I keep turning pages. Your first installment, Heaven's Prey, was that kind of story. Is the sequel like that as well, or is it a different type of story?
JS:  This one's a much easier read. For one thing, it's a romantic suspense instead of suspense on its own, but the biggest difference is that in this story we're not inside the head of a serial killer.

JR:  I heard once that a person who puts soggy Grape Nuts in a sock, allows it to harden, and uses it as a weapon is a cereal killer, but let's get back to reality. There's a difference between the two stories that has nothing to do with writing. The publisher for Heaven's Prey closed its fiction line. How did you approach getting the sequel out?

JS:  Because I was blessed to know other indie writers who could answer my questions, I decided to take the independent publishing route. Working with the same editor and cover artist from Heaven's Prey helped me match the quality, and I practiced for releasing book two by reacquiring the rights to book one and republishing it myself over the summer. Releasing Secrets and Lies this November went surprisingly smoothly.

JR: Helpful advice. I had a publisher I wanted to target my novel for, and that publisher also closed their fiction line. With that in mind, I'll ask the same question two different ways:

1. What do you think is the future for Christian fiction, or is there much of one?
2. What advice would you give to a young aspiring Christian novelist?

JS:  I think there's a great future for Christian fiction, and the genre is widening to include something for nearly everyone who enjoys a clean read from a Christian perspective. People who haven't darkened a Christian bookstore's doorway for years would be pleasantly surprised. I think we'll see more independent publishing, because it looks like the traditional publishers are dealing with the changing dynamics by concentrating on trusted names and topics. Unknowns, especially with stories that break new ground, may have to publish independently (but it doesn't hurt to try to land an agent or a publishing contract with a reputable house).

In some ways the advice is the same as ever: write a quality novel that people will want to read; establish a network so readers can hear about the novel; make contacts within the industry. But I'd add this: consider writing your first three novels and polishing them well, before seeking publication. If they're a series, you may want to adjust the beginning once you reach the end. And when it's publishing time, editing and promoting book one won't leave much time for writing book two. If you choose self-publishing, don't do it until you can invest in quality editing, formatting and cover design. Many people can do some of this themselves, but we always need fresh eyes on our writing.

JR: How's your blog going? If you had a top ten list of books you've read this year, what would be on it? (BTW, I'll be posting my list on this blog in a couple of days.)

JS:  I look forward to your list, Jeff. Off the top of my head and in no particular order, these books stood out to me this year: 

• Words of Radiance, Brandon Sanderson 
• Blind Trust, Sandra Orchard 
• Fatal Exchange, Lisa Harris
• Ithaca, Susan Fish
• Consider the Sunflowers, Elma Schemenauer
• Soulminder, Timothy Zahn
• When God Interrupts, M. Craig Barnes
• The Patmos Deception, Davis Bunn
• Veiled at Midnight, Christine Lindsay
• Miranda Warning, Heather Day Gilbert

My blog's still active, with reviews on Mondays, devotionals on Wednesdays, and a variety of posts on Fridays.

JR: What's next on the horizon? I noticed that there's a part 3 to Redemption's Edge. Do you have any other plans after this?

JS:  I'm discovering book three now, and this is my favourite part of the process. After that, the ideas are pretty vague, although there may be something set in a seaside inn, with an author as a guest. I do want to branch into science fiction, but I'd like to write a few more suspense novels first.

JR: Thank you for your time, Janet. Can you remind us how we can keep up with your latest goings on?

JS: I'm most active on my blog, at janetsketchley.ca, and I invite Christian suspense fans to sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews. Newsletter subscribers often hear things first. Also:
Secrets and Lies page: http://janetsketchley.ca/books/secrets-and-lies
Sample Chapter: http://janetsketchley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Secrets-and-Lies-Chapter-1.pdf 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanetSketchley
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JanetSketchley
Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/author/janetsketchley
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/janetsketchley

Jeff Reynolds to reader: As promised, we'll be giving away a copy of Secrets and Lies. Three steps:

1. Leave a comment. 
2. Include info on how to contact you should you win, like e-mail. 
3. A question for you to answer: If you were running from bad guys, what would be the place you hide in and what occupation would you take up? If you want, you could also let me know if you'd change your hair color (I've thought about making mine indigo).

Interview and E-Book Giveaway With Janet Sketchley

by Jeff Reynolds

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO SHEILA WEBSTER!

Ladies and gentlemen, today's interview is with Janet Sketchley. She'll be giving away an e-book copy of her debut novel (and also her latest release) Heaven's Prey. More about that later.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Janet. I'd like to ask first about your testimony and your family.
 
Janet Sketchley: Thanks, Jeff, I'm glad to be here. I've read some fun interviews at Sleuths and Suspects. Hmm...

Faith: I'm thankful to have been raised in a Christian home and that God gave me a believing heart at a young age. It doesn't mean I haven't struggled, but Jesus has kept me out of a heap of trouble that I'd otherwise have created. The tenacity of God is one of my themes in writing, because it's something I've experienced in my own life.

Family: My husband and three sons are wonderful men who add warmth, encouragement and laughter to my life. Everyone's still at home, but our sons may all leave the nest within the next year. Major adjustment!  

JR:  Your debut novel has just come out. Would you like to tell us about Heaven's Prey? (I'm in complete suspense on how you'll answer that question -- any chances of you saying "no" to that one? LOL)
 

JS:  (Smiling) Why, this question is a complete shock, Jeff. What can I say? Despite her husband’s objections, 40-something Ruth Warner finds healing through prayer for Harry Silver, the serial killer who brutally raped and murdered her niece. When a kidnapping-gone-wrong pegs her as his next victim, Harry claims that by destroying the one person who’d pray for him, he proves God can’t—or won’t—look after His own. Can Ruth’s faith sustain her to the end—whatever the cost?
 
JR:  One thing that made an impression about your book, released Nov. 1, 2013, is that the Amazon page mentioned it received a third place finish in Risen Book's 2011 contest and was on the short list for the 2008 best new Canadian author award. Considering these awards were accomplished years before its release, it sounds like getting this published has been a journey. What was the process like?
 
JS:  Long! These and a few other "so close" moments began to feel like all I'd ever find. Heaven's Prey needed the right timing and the right publisher, and I needed to learn a lot about crafting a novel. Truth told, I got so used to "no" that I wasn't sure what to do with a "yes" when it came.

JR:  The accolades I mentioned in the previous question weren't the first for a book you've been involved with. You also have a true story published in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider, which won the 2012 Christian Small Publishers Gift Book Award Winner and also received six 2012 The Word Awards and seven Awards of Merit. Would you like to tell us about your contribution there?
 
JS:  I loved being part of A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. The 37 authors worked as a team, and we learned from one another. My story, "The Road Trip that Wasn't," shares how God showed Himself faithful when my car died on a remote stretch of highway—when I had three young kids and no cell phone.

JR:  Another outlet of your writing is reviews, including some by authors I've interviewed on this blog (Kerry Nietz, Sandra Orchard, Jayne Self, and Lynette Eason, for example.) What advice would you give to writing a review? And how has your review writing (both fiction and non-fiction) helped with your fiction writing?
 
JS:  Main piece of advice: never give spoilers. Introduce readers to the book, give your impressions of what worked and what didn't, and let readers know where they can find the book/author. If the book is outside of what you usually review, make sure readers are aware of the difference in case their tastes aren't as broad. (eg. I mention any language issues if reviewing a mainstream book, since my readers are used to me reviewing Christian books)

The biggest thing review-writing has done for my own fiction is to help me pick out the key details for a plot summary. It also gives me practice looking at the overall book structure instead of getting bogged down in the details.   

JR:  You've written an excellent guest blog on praying for others (http://faith-fiction-friends.blogspot.ca/2013/10/would-you-pray-for-stranger-by-janet.html). I don't know if you keep up with what's going on down here in the United States, but what trends in Canada prompt the greatest prayer? Any other comments on intercession?

JS:  Cyber-bullying and teen suicide. Abuse and violent crime. The need for integrity and wisdom in leadership. Right now, typhoon devastation in the Philippines. I could go on. In interceding for such high-level needs, we need to be careful to bring them to God and leave them in His hands. If we start carrying them ourselves, we'll break. We don't have the power, and often we don't even have the words, but we know our God does. And we know He cares. A key part of my prayers for such big needs is that in some way He will reveal Himself to the ones in pain, that they'll see His love and the difference He's making.

JR:  Back to your reviews -- I noticed two of the contemporary fiction works you reviewed have "Dog" in the title. Is that a hint that I'm interviewing an animal lover?
 
JS:  It's actually a coincidence, but I'm very fond of animals. We have a pet-free house due to allergies, so I have to visit friends for my animal fix. I'd love to have a cat, but I'd rather keep my husband. :)

JR:  Thank you for your time. Could you pass along your website and any other information you'd like us to know that I haven't mentioned?
 
JS:  Jeff, thank you for putting so much thought and research into preparing these questions. I hope your readers realize the effort that goes into making an interview like this. My website is http://janetsketchley.ca/. I guess I should say, Heaven's Prey is book 1 in the Redemption's Edge series, and book 2 will release in 2014. Thank you again for having me here at Sleuths and Suspects.

Jeff to the reader: Now it's time to give away an e-book copy of Heaven's Prey. Here are the simple rules:

1. Leave a comment, as usual.
2. Include your e-mail address -- again, as usual. 
3. Janet mentioned using the news as a prompt to intercede for others. What news stories have led you to prayer?